Ashford Castle

We stayed here the first night. The original castle dates back to the 13th century Anglo - Norman castle built by the de Burgos family after their defeat of the native O'Connors of Connaught. Successive lords expanded the castle and fortified it. The central building, a French style chateau that incorporates the 13th century castle, was built in the mid 1700's by Lord Ardilaun. In 1852, the castle became the country home of the Guinness family, it has since been restored and transformed into Ireland's finest resort hotel. The castle is situated on 350 acres of wooded estate on the shores of Lough Corrib.http://www.ashford.ie/history.htm

The village of Cong has an ancient early Christian monastary called Cong Abbey. It was founded in the 7th century, destroyed by fire in the 12th, rebuilt by High King of Ireland Turlough O'Connor in 1135, sacked and destroyed by the Norman knight William de Burgo in 1203, and then rebuilt all over again. This is the main entrance portal.